# What is the best song that begins with a numeral or a symbol? See rules in OP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music, mmm-song-poll\ **Created:** [November 7, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727 "2023-11-07T01:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/41 "2023-11-07T06:33:24Z")
And one more: 1974 - Amy Grant (And I think there’s a simillarly-named (numbered?) Smashing Pumpkins song that someone could bring up…) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/42 "2023-11-07T07:49:35Z")
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/43 "2023-11-07T08:20:41Z")
2000 Man - Rolling Stones (or KISS) 99 - Toto 11 O’Clock Tick Tock - U2 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/44 "2023-11-07T09:16:33Z")
100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 200 More Miles - Cowboy Junkies 2 Times - Ann Lee '74-'75 - The Connells 40 Cups of Coffee - Ella Mae Moore ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/45 "2023-11-07T10:12:36Z")
**16 Tons** - Tennessee Ernie Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/46 "2023-11-07T10:14:37Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > (And I think there’s a simillarly-named (numbered?) Smashing Pumpkins song that someone could bring up…) **1979** - Smashing Pumpkins. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/47 "2023-11-07T10:33:34Z")
43 - Level 42 88 - Level 42 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/48 "2023-11-07T11:38:13Z")
I’ve done my five, but I’ll just add (since no one has mentioned it) that if you don’t like either Jay-Z’s or Ice-T’s versions of **99 Problems** , you could always go with [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swnudbCnccs). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/49 "2023-11-07T11:58:47Z")
Wow, I’m impressed with the number of entries in this category. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’m a huge Queen fan, and “'39” is one of my favorite songs. The song’s official title, as listed on the _A Night at the Opera_ album, and [on the band’s YouTube page](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE8kGMfXaFU), is just that, with no other characters or words. So, it definitely belongs here in this thread. I agree with every word and I was planning on posting pretty much this exact reply. > [@ekedolphin](#): > > 99 Luftballons is in German; 99 Red Balloons is in English. I’d say they count separately. Agreed. > [@Shakester](#): > > **“Heroes”** by David Bowie. The quotation marks are part of the title, though that’s usually ignored when the song is discussed. Agree with this too. > [@pkbites](#): > > 2000 Man - Rolling Stones (or KISS) Which one are you nominating? Or both? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/50 "2023-11-07T12:00:59Z")
(I Don’t Want to) Go to Chelsea – Elvis Costello (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding – Elvis Costello (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman – Carole King 2 + 2 = ? – Bob Seger System 6’1 – Liz Phair ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/51 "2023-11-07T12:09:19Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > 1812 Overture - Tchaikovsky The actual title is “The Year 1812, Solemn Overture, Op. 49”, so ineligible for this thread. But this raises a question. Tchaikovsky is obviously the composer, and I assume he conducted an orchestra, but should we consider him the performer of this work for the purposes of these polls? I’m sure this will come up again. I don’t know enough about classical music to be comfortable making this decision, so I’d like some input. Thanks! mmm ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/52 "2023-11-07T12:31:35Z")
$1000 Wedding - Gram Parsons 400 Years - Bob Marley and the Wailers 51st State - New Model Army ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/53 "2023-11-07T12:33:17Z")
[1963](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SofZHE0jBRI) - New Order [_10:15 Saturday Night_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NERzLlHo-D0) - The Cure [52 Girls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxTBYkI6wmc) - B-52’s [90s Music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0yi8D15r7o) - Kimbra [500 (Shake, Baby, Shake)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODdZ4QhnXJI) - Lush @Left_Hand_of_Dorkness - saw in time to drop The Fall for this. Tough call, though… ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/54 "2023-11-07T12:41:37Z")
Oh, man–I had forgotten about _10:15 Saturday Night_ by The Cure, and was hoping it’d be one of your nominations. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/55 "2023-11-07T12:53:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > But this raises a question. Tchaikovsky is obviously the composer, and I assume he conducted an orchestra, but should we consider him the performer of this work for the purposes of these polls? > > I’m sure this will come up again. I don’t know enough about classical music to be comfortable making this decision, so I’d like some input. Since these polls focus on recordings rather than compositions, and since the term “song” doesn’t exactly apply to most classical compositions, and since we haven’t included any classical music on any of the other polls, I think the best idea is to exclude classical music from these polls. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/56 "2023-11-07T13:06:45Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > @Left_Hand_of_Dorkness - saw in time to drop The Fall for this. Tough call, though… I owe you! (and maybe will repay you by saying 52 girls was already nominated, so you might be able tog get The Fall in as well) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/57 "2023-11-07T13:08:25Z")
Got one more: 25 Minutes To Go - Johnny Cash ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/58 "2023-11-07T13:10:41Z")
Some of the o > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I owe you! (and maybe will repay you by saying 52 girls was already nominated, so you might be able tog get The Fall in as well) Dang, I checked but was clearly too slow. Search isn’t turning it up, who nominated it? ETA: NVM, I see, John Di Fool @Mean_Mr.Mustard - can I get a replacement for 52 girls? It wouldn’t be The Fall song I initially was thinking of, it would actually be [1999](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=951Dm0vS6Wk) - Beabadoobee ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/59 "2023-11-07T13:24:43Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > But this raises a question. Tchaikovsky is obviously the composer, and I assume he conducted an orchestra, but should we consider him the performer of this work for the purposes of these polls? I’m torn. On the one hand, we only have 150 slots, and from post deadline activity, this population could provide 500 songs in any category, so excluding obvious “not a song” nominations would help. But we don’t want to exclude instrumentals (who wants the ‘R’ category without Link Wray’s _Rumble_?), On the other hand, I agree that full orchestral compositions don’t fit my gut definition of a song, but I was OK with the nomination of _Für Elise_. Maybe a length limit on “songs”? (maybe 20 minutes? Who would exclude Mountain Jam from the M’s?) It’s a tough one. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727/60 "2023-11-07T14:00:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Since these polls focus on recordings rather than compositions, and since the term “song” doesn’t exactly apply to most classical compositions, and since we haven’t included any classical music on any of the other polls, I think the best idea is to exclude classical music from these polls. This is pretty much my feeling. I’ll go with this unless someone offers a compelling reason to do otherwise. > [@peccavi](#): > > But we don’t want to exclude instrumentals Instrumentals will absolutely be allowed. My concern is classical music, where there are typically no “songs”, where the composer is (arguably) not the artist, and where I don’t have enough knowledge of the genre (or the motivation) to make case-by-case decisions. > [@MrDibble](#): > > can I get a replacement for 52 girls? > It wouldn’t be The Fall song I initially was thinking of, it would actually be > [1999](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=951Dm0vS6Wk) - Beabadoobee Done. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-a-numeral-or-a-symbol-see-rules-in-op/992727.md?page=4)